Looking for recipes for macaroni salads? Taste of Home has the best macaroni salads recipes from real cooks like you, featuring reviews, ratings, how-to videos and tips.

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When my husband and I planned our first garden, we overdid the tomato and zucchini plants. By the end of harvest, I was at my wit's end wondering what else I could do with all those vegetables (sound familiar?). That's when my sister and I came up with this great-tasting salad. Today, even though we have our garden under control, we still make this popular dish.

Whenever I attend a potluck or family gathering, I'm asked to make this salad, which has been a family secret for over 50 years. My husband likes it as a main dish, served with garlic bread.
—Barbara Robbins
Cave Junction, Oregon

I modified the original recipe for this chicken salad to make it healthier. The ingredients are so flavorful that my changes didn't take away from the taste. This refreshing salad never lasts long at our house. Even if I double the recipe, my husband asks, "Why didn't you make more?"
-Kristi Abernathy, Lewistown, Montana

I've found that I can't go wrong taking this colorful bean and pasta salad to a potluck, patio party or picnic. It is easy to put together ahead of time...and the flavors blend as the salad chills.
-Cheryl Maczko
Arthurdale, West Virginia

"When I bring this super salad to church dinners, there is usually nothing to take home," relates Lynn Cole of Sagle, Idaho. "Add 2 or 3 cups leftover turkey or chicken to create a filling main-dish salad," she suggests. "The dressing is so good that we use it on potato salads and even lettuce salads!"

THIS SALAD is ideal for one or two people, but I've often increased the recipe to take to potlucks.
For variety, I'll sometimes add chopped pickles or shredded cheese. In summer, fresh tomatoes add color and flavor.
-Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

Popular any time of the year, this crowd-pleasing pasta salad is perfect for summer picnics. Made the day before, it has a pleasant vinaigrette dressing sparked with herbs. I set aside the Parmesan cheese and add it just before the salad is served.
-Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon

Starting with the Old-fashioned Egg Salad, this recipe is modified to be a great pasta salad. This variation pairs pasta with eggs and is brightened by green pepper and pimietos.—American Egg Board, Linda Braun, Park Ridge, Illinois

Two types of store-bought beans, a convenient can of olives and lots of cheese make this easy pasta salad, shared by Sandra Gordon of Emmett, Idaho, a cinch to assemble at home. With a creamy dressing, it's a festive medley that's sure to earn praise at potlucks. TIP: Try other small pasta noodles, and for a fancier look, serve it on a bed of Bibb lettuce.

This is the best-tasting macaroni salad ever! When I fix a batch, I serve myself a portion right away because if I wait until I get to the table, I know it will be all gone.—Judith Hunt, Goldsboro, North Carolina